Opinion
No. 09PDJ084.
December 4, 2009.
Attorney Regulation.
The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved a Conditional Admission of Misconduct submitted by the parties and suspended Patrick Nealson Smith (Attorney Registration No. 30162) from the practice of law for a period of one hundred and twenty days, effective December 4, 2009. Respondent knowingly failed to competently represent his client throughout a criminal proceeding, which resulted in his client not receiving a fair trial. He later testified while intoxicated during a Rule 35(c) hearing on the issue of his ineffective assistance of counsel. Respondent's misconduct constituted grounds for the imposition of discipline pursuant to C.R.C.P. 251.5 and violated Colo. RPC 1.1 and 8.4(d).